Ab initio calculation of the structure of a complex LiBeH3 molecule

Ab initio calculations have been made for the areas of the potential surface of the LibeH₃ molecule in the vicinity of configurations where the Li⁺ cation is located over the edge, the vertex, and the plane of the BeH^?₃ anion. The specific features of the polytopic bond in complex LiMH_k+1 molecules are discussed.     

Ab initio study of the O4 molecule

SCF-CI calculations were done on tetratomic oxygen complexes at various geometries. The results point to the existence of a metastable covalent molecule O₄ completely different from the van der Waals structure (O₂)₂ detected experimentally. At its equilibrium geometry, the O₄ molecule is a quasi-square (r(OO) ≈ 1.4 Å), slightly twisted out of plane, corresponding to the symmetry group D_2d. The activation energy of the reaction O₄(¹A_g) → 20₂(X ³Σ^?_g) is found to be ≈ 15 kcal/mole, that of the inverse reaction, ≈ 75 kcal/mole.     

Ab initio structure determination of novel borate NaSrBO3

A novel orthoborate, NaSrBO₃, has been successfully synthesized by standard solid-state reaction, and the crystal structure has been determined from powder X-ray diffraction data. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with lattice parameters: , , , β=100.589(1)°. The fundamental building units are isolated BO₃ groups, which are parallelly distributed along two different directions. Because of the anisotropic polarizations of planar BO₃ groups, a considerable birefringence can be expected in it. The Na atoms are six-coordinated with O atoms to form octahedra, and the Sr atoms are nine-coordinated, forming tri-capped trigonal prisms. Those polyhedra connect with each other by bridging-oxygen atoms, forming infinite three-dimensional network, which indicates that the cleaving problem is expected to be overcome during the course of single-crystal growth. The infrared spectrum has been measured, and the result is consistent with the crystallographic study. Moreover, a comparison of the new structure type with the other known orthoborates is presented here.     

Ab initio structure determination of new compound Ba3(BO3)(PO4)

The crystal structure of new compound Ba₃BPO₇ was determined by ab initio method from high-resolution conventional X-ray powder diffraction data. The Rietveld refinement converged to R_p=5.92%, R_wp=8.87%, R_exp=5.00% with the following details: Hexagonal, space group P6₃mc, a=5.4898 (1) Å, c=14.7551(1) Å, Z=2. The basic unit of the structure is the [BaO₁₀]-[BO₃]-[PO₄] polar polyhedra-chain composed of Ba1-B-P-O cluster. These chains, running along c-axis, stack in a HCP mode to build the whole structure with triangular prism channels. The channels are parallel to c-axis too, in which Ba2 and Ba3 are located.     

Ab initio calculations of the stability of the NH+5 ion

Some fragments of the NH⁺₅ potential surface have been calculated by the SCF MO LCAO method using a basis of linear combinations of gaussian lobe functions. The NH⁺₅ ion was found to be stable against dissociation into NH₃ and H⁺₂ or NH⁺₃ and H₂. Its stability with respect to decomposition into NH⁺₄ and H remains to be seen.     

The infrared matrix isolation spectra and normal coordinate analysis of LiBeF3 and the related species Li2BeF4 and (LiBeF3)2

Beryllium fluoride vapor was reacted with ⁶Lif: and ⁷LiF at 900–1000 °C in an effusion tube. The infrared spectrum of the effusate was obtained in a neon matrix, in the range 4000-190 cm^?1. One mixed halide, LiBeF₃ was identified and the existence of (LiBeF₃)₂ or Li₂BeF₄ inferred. For LiBeF₃ seven of the possible nine infrared frequencies were observed. A normal coordinate analysis for LiBeF₃ is presented and used to assign the experimental frequencies. Calculated mean amplitudes of vibration and calculated frequencies from normal coordinate analyses of Li₂BeF₄ and (LiBeF₃)₂ are reported.     

Ab initio structure determination of new compound Li4CaB2O6

A new compound, Li₄CaB₂O₆, has been synthesized by solid-state reaction and its structure has been determined from powder X-ray diffraction data by direct methods. The refinement was carried out using the Rietveld methods and the final refinement converged with R_p=10.4%, R_wp=14.2%, R_exp=4.97%. This compound belongs to the orthorhombic space group Pnnm, with lattice parameters a=9.24036(9) Å, b=8.09482(7) Å, and c=3.48162(4) Å. Fundamental building units are isolated [BO₃]³⁻ anionic groups, which are all parallel to the a-b plane stacked along the c-axis. The Ca atoms are six-coordinated by the O atoms to form octahedral coordination polyhedra, which are joined together through edges along the c-axis, forming infinitely long three-dimensional chains. The Li atoms have a four-fold and a five-fold coordination with O atoms that lead to complex Li-O-Li chains that also extend along the c-axis. The infrared spectrum of Li₄CaB₂O₆ was also studied, which is consistent with the crystallographic study.     

Ab initio and density function theory studies on NLi6 molecule: compared with CLi6 and OLi6 species

A wide variety of geometrical structures of NLi₆ molecule were studied using HF ab initio and BLYP-DFT techniques. Three stationary configurations which take D_4h, D_3d and D_2d configurations were obtained. Their equilibrium geometries and fundamental frequencies were calculated at HF and BLYP-DFT levels. Among the three stable states, the global minimum prefers D_3d configuration, which is different from those of CLi₆ and OLi₆. The D_3d isomer of NLi₆ is 3.43 and 28.45 kcal/mol lower in energy than the D_4h and D_2d ones in the DFT calculation, respectively. All calculations were performed with 6-31G* polarized split-valence basis set.     

Ab initio scf and ci study of the electronic structure of BH3CO

Results of ab initio SCF and CI calculations employing a Gaussian basis set of double-zeta quality are reported for BH₃CO. The heat of formation for the gas-phase reaction, BH₃ + CO → BH₃CO, is calculated as ?10.98 kcal mol^?1 within the SCF approximation, and as ?14.56 kcal mol^?1 if the CI treatment is included. This is in good agreement with the estimated experimental value of ?16.6 kcal mol^?1. The energy of rearrangement of the BH₃ fragment from D_3h to C_3v symmetry in BH₃CO is calculated as 15.97 kcal mol^?1. Molecular properties have been studied in terms of the calculated electron populations, the dipole moment and the electric Field gradient of ¹¹B in BH₃CO.     

Ab initio study of H2SO4 rotamers

This work uses ab initio calculations to obtain harmonic frequencies and anharmonic constants for the O–H symmetric and asymmetric stretches of H₂SO₄ in its C₂, C_s, C_1a, and C_1b configurations. In addition, a high-resolution potential energy surface is calculated as a function of both O=S–O–H dihedral angles in order to accurately obtain minimum and saddle point energies. The resulting peak positions and Boltzmann populations are compared to experimental frequencies and intensities and provide evidence for the assignment of rotamers in H₂SO₄ as suggested in recent work.     

Ab initio study of some peroxides. HOOH, CH3OOH and, CH3OOCH3

The geometries of HOOH, CH₃OOH, and CH₃OOCH₃, were optimized with different basis sets (3-21G, 6-31G^*(*) and D95^**) at different levels of theory (HF, MP2, MP4, and CI). HF/3-21G optimizations result in planar trans conformations for all three peroxides. HF/6-31G^** calculations predict skew conformations for HOOH and CH₃OOH, but a planar trans struture for CH₃OOCH₃. For the larger basis set the calculated bond lengths, especially the O-O bonds, are too short. Optimizations for HOOH including electron correlation at the MP2, MP3, MP4, CI, and CCD level improve the agreement for bond lengths and the OOH angle, but result in dihedral angles Which are too large by 3– 8°. In the case of CH₃OOCH₃, similar calculations at the MP2 and CI level predict planar trans structures instead of the experimentally observed skew conformation. On the other hand, MP4 single point calculations at MP2 optimized parameters result in a correct skew structure. For all three peroxides a computationally “economic” method, i.e., single point calculations at MP2 or MP4 level with HF/3-21G optimized parameters, result in close agreement between calculated and experimental structures.     

Ab initio investigations of the C2F4S isomers and of their interconversions

The transition states and the activation energies for the unobserved isomerization reactions between the three possible C₂F₄S isomers with divalent sulfur, trifluorothioacetyl fluoride 1, tetrafluorothiirane 2, and trifluoroethenesulfenyl fluoride 3, have been determined by ab initio Hartree-Fock (HF), Møller-Plesset second-order perturbation (MP2) calculations and by Gaussian-3 theory. The results show that the unobserved isomerization reactions are feasible. Furthermore, all three isomers should exist as stable species, but the unknown isomer, 3, is considerably less stable than the known isomers, 1 and 2.     

Ab initio investigation of O3 addition to double bonds of limonene

The reaction of the O₃ addition to double bonds of the limonene in the gas phase has been investigated using ab initio methods. Four different possibilities for the O₃ addition to the double bonds, which correspond to the two C–C double bonds (endocyclic or exocyclic), and two different orientations of each C–C double bonds, have been considered. The corresponding rate constants have been calculated using the transition-state theory (TST) at the CCSD(T)/6-31G(d) + CF//B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level of theory. The high-pressure limit of the overall rate constant at 298 K is found to be ∼2.92 × 10⁻¹⁶ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ that is in a good agreement with the experimental data, and the rate constants of the four individual reaction channels turn out to be 2.1 × 10⁻¹⁶ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, 1.2 × 10⁻¹⁷ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, 6.5 × 10⁻¹⁷ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ and 5.1 × 10⁻¹⁸ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ for 1-endo, 2-endo, 1-exo and 2-exo, respectively.     

Ab initio molecular orbital study of Fe2Cl6 and FeAlCl6

Ab initio molecular orbital theory was used to determine the equilibrium structure and vibrational frequencies of Fe₂Cl₆ and FeAlCl₆. The equilibrium structure the Fe₂Cl₆ dimer has D_2h symmetry with a planar arrangement of the four membered {FeCl_brFeCl_br} ring, similar to the Al₂Cl₆ dimer. The calculated bond distances and vibrational frequencies are in good agreement with experiment. The potential energy surface for the puckering of the {FeCl_brFeCl_br} ring is extremely flat. This prevents an unambiguous assignment of either D_2h or C_2v symmetry to the Fe₂Cl₆ structure in electron diffraction measurements. The FeAlCl₆ molecule is found to have a C_2v structure similar to Fe₂Cl₆ with vibrational frequencies in good agreement with experiment.     

Ab initio studies of the NF2Li and NHLi2 dimers

In an attempt to elucidate the nature of the dimeric bond in NLiX₂ compounds, ab initio calculations with 3-21G and 6-31G* basis sets are performed on NF₂Li and NHLi₂. The former exhibits an asymmetric structure, with a binding energy about half that of the NH₂Li dimer, while the latter features C_2v symmetry and a binding energy approximately the same as that of (NH₂Li)₂. It is concluded that the dimerization occurs via a contribution of covalent bonding.     

Ab initio quantum chemical studies on the reactions of CF3O2 with OH

The potential energy surface for the CF₃O₂ + OH reaction has been theoretically investigated using the DFT (B3LYP/6-311G(d,p)) level of theory. Both singlet and triplet potential energy surfaces are investigated. The reaction mechanism on the triplet surface is simple. However, the reaction mechanism on the singlet surface is more complicated. It is revealed that the formation of CF₃O + HO₂ is the dominant channel on the triplet surface. The potential energy surface (PES) for this reaction has been given according to the relative energies calculated at the DFT/B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level. Because this reaction involves both triplet and singlet states, triplet–singlet intersystem crossing (ISC) crossing also have been investigated in this paper.     

An ab initio study of the structure and torsional modes of the H2SO4 molecule

Ab initio calculations at the STO—3G and 4—31G levels have been carried out for the H₂SO₄ molecule as a function of the pair of twist angles of the HO bonds about the respective OS bonds. Values for the remaining bond angles and lengths were taken from the recent microwave structural determination by Kuczkowski et al. The results indicate a minimum energy for a structure with a (sc, sc) conformation and C₂ symmetry, where sc denotes synclinal, or gauche. This structure corresponds to that observed. At a higher energy of 11.5 kJ mol^?1 (4—31G) there is a structure with a (+sc, ?sc) conformation and C_s symmetry. The torsional modes corresponding to the a and b irreducible representations of the C₂ point group are estimated to have frequencies of 280 and 265 cm^?1, respectively.     

Ab initio MO study on the global minimum structure of C3H3 anion: propynl-1-yl versus allenyl anions

The geometrical structures of the C₃H⁻₃ anion are surveyed at the coupled-cluster doubles (CCD) level of theory with the aug-cc-pVDZ basis set. To clarify the CCD geometries, the stable two isomers -- propynl-l-yl 1 and allenyl 2 anions -- are further optimized at the coupled-cluster singles, doubles (triples) (CCSD(T)) level of theory both with the aug-cc-pVDZ and aug-cc-pVTZ basis sets. The final energies are calculated at the CCSD(T) and the complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) multi-reference internally contracted CI (MRCI) levels of theory with the aug-cc-pVTZ basis set. At the MRCI level of theory including both the corrections due to the cluster energies (MRCI+Q) and the zero-point vibrational energies, the allenyl anion 2 is about 1.3 kcal mol⁻¹ lower in energy than the propynl-l-yl anion 1. These results contrast with the previous theoretical estimates, where the propynl-l-yl anion 1 is 2-3 kcal mol⁻¹ lower in energy than the allenyl anion 2. The activation energies of the intramolecular hydrogen transfer in the 1 → 2 conversion reactions are 63.5 kcal mol⁻¹ at the MRCI+Q level of theory with the aug-cc-pVTZ basis set including the zero-point energy corrections. The adiabatic electron affinity of the planer propargyl (H₂CCCH) radical, which is the global minimum of the C₃H₃ radical, is calculated to be 0.976 eV (after correction for the zero-point energy changes) at the CCSD(T) level of theory with the aug-cc-pVTZ basis set. The present electron affinity is in fairly good agreement with the experimental one (0.893 eV) observed by Oakes and Ellison.     

Ab initio MRD CI calculations for the electron spectrum of the C3 radical

Calculations using the MRD CI method are reported for the ground and low lying excited states of C₃. Transitions from the 3σ_u, 4σ_g and 1π_u MO's into 1π_g are considered, as well as the 1π_u → 3s Rydberg species and the corresponding ionization, and good agreement with experimental data is obtained where comparison is possible. Potential curves calculated for the ground and (1π_u → 1π_g) ¹Σ⁺_u excited state are discussed.